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Women & girls

Gender inequality restricts women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights. The world’s poorest young women and girls are disproportionately affected. Two-thirds of the 1.4 billion living in extreme poverty are women.

Without access to their basic human rights these women lack the ability to have control over their own bodies and ultimately, their future. They aren’t able to protect themselves from STIs, unplanned pregnancies or gender-based violence.

Poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes represent one-third of the total global burden of disease for women aged 15-44 years. Unsafe sex is a major risk factor for death and disability in low and middle-income countries. Globally, HIV is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age.